GARY A. LEAKE WOODWORKING |
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News and Announcements – not quite a daily blog, but more current than I have ever updated the website! |
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11/15/09:
What a week!! Last night, we attended the opening gala of the Brackenwood
Gallery of Fine Art in |
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11/14/09:
It has been a while since the website has been updated because we have been
so busy creating new pieces for galleries, commissioned works and
restoration. Latest commissioned works include a petite but wild cherry table
(“Cherry Swirl” shown at left), a large and really wild cluster-birdseye cherry table. We have also begun discussions
related to a small table for the remodeled Coupeville Library. A number of my
new wood art pieces have been added to the website’s Wood Art
Portfolio. |
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8/29/09:
The buzz about Woodpalooza is building! I have just
finished the “Whirls and Swirls” hall table that matches the
“Chair with a Flare” that I had completed earlier (so that it
could be shown on the Show’s postcard). I hope to see lots of you at
the Show. |
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8/1/09:
Last night’s Reception at the Coupeville Arts and Crafts Festival was a
blast. It was great to see many friends, fellow artists and so many red dots
(sold pieces)! I entered two tables (“Adrift” {upper left image}
and “Walnut Fantasy” {lower left image}) and was very pleasantly
surprised to discover that “Adrift” was awarded 1st place
for 3-D art in the juried show! And then to top the eve off,
“Adrift” was purchased by one of our recent restoration clients.
Thank you Kathleen!! |
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6/25/09:
I have just purchased a couple of wonderful slabs: |
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6/4/09:
What a couple of busy days… Yesterday we learned that one of my
favorite cherry tables, “Cherry Challenge" sold at the Wood
Merchant, La Conner. Today Sandy and I installed a 22-inch by 10-foot by
2-inch thick countertop fashioned from a single slab of stunning sapele into it’s new home! Our shop is temporarily
a bit empty, but it will soon be humming with work for the upcoming ‘Woodpalooza’ and other shows. |
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5/30/09:
What a surprise! This week I received an unexpected and very nice surprise in
the form of a card thanking Sandy and I for a custom butternut/walnut benchseat that was recently delivered to a wonderful
local client. Mary wrote, “I appreciate the harmony between the bark
texture and the striped legs and the perfect way the natural curves work
together. It is a masterpiece!” Although we often receive compliments,
rarely are they put to paper – and on such a lovely card. Mary is a
pleasure to work with. Thank you Mary!! |
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4/14/09:
It finally arrived! I just received a copy of ‘500 Tables’, Lark Books’ latest
book in their 500 series. ‘Nature’s Rhythm’ appears on page 132 in
all of its glory! Not only was my table selected from many thousands
submitted, but fellow |
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2/25/09:
A great week so far – I have just put the finishing touches on one of
the most beautifully figured maple burl hall tables that I have had the
pleasure of crafting (actually I just let the character of the wood show and
restrained from messing up what nature created). I plan to enter this table
in the 46th Annual Historic Coupeville Arts and Crafts Festival
juried art show. |
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2/20/09:
I received an interesting phone call today. Someone wanted to know if I
repaired move damage of ‘regular furniture’ as opposed to true
antiques. After all, their furniture (Thos. Moser!!) was only 25 years old. I
had to chuckle a bit, but naturally the answer is ‘yes’.
Sometimes the only difference between quality modern furniture and antiques
is time… Perhaps I should
change the business name to ‘Whidbey Furniture Repair’? |
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2/19/09:
I’m on my way to an art gallery with the newest wood-art creation: a
very small display table crafted from zebrawood and black walnut. All of the
galleries that display my work are wonderfully supportive and I consider
myself honored to continue creating pieces for them to show. I am
occasionally asked why I don’t sell directly to the art-buying public.
I consider art galleries to be my marketing partners and want them to succeed
in doing what they do best. Art galleries earn and deserve every bit of the
commission that they receive! We may not need art to live, but it sure does
brighten the journey. So visit an art gallery today… |
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2/14/09:
Every year we experience a ‘holiday bump’ in the restoration-side
of our business. This past year was no different with lots of |
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12/6/08:
Tonight Sandy and I dusted off the wood shavings and donned our natty
gold/purple Lions Club vests to participate in Coupeville’s Christmas
Parade. We were blessed with large crowds of kids of all ages (<1 year to
90+) and no wind and only a bit of rain. For those many who braved the
elements, thank you. Afterwards, the Penn
Cove Gallery had good crowds and appreciators of the arts! Sales were
really good!! But why was the Boat Parade almost an hour early? It was there
and gone before the tree lighting in the town park… |
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12/6/08:
Great news! I am honored to announce that a number of my wood art pieces have
been accepted at the Cole Gallery
in |
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12/5/08: The Anacortes Art Walk was fabulous! Fortunately the weather mild with no wind/rain. I have never attended a fall evening event that had so many happy people enjoying themselves while appreciating art. Thanks to Kathy Sherman and her able staff at Scott Milo for hosting and sharing the tasty treats (the hot cider was to die for!). And I had a red dot on ‘Dark Wave’ too. Thank you Daphne!! |
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12/3/08: Last week’s great news: ‘Nature’s Rhythm’ has been selected for publication in Lark Books latest book in their 500 series, ‘500 Tables’. The good news is that the table was selected from many thousands submitted; the better news is that the Wood Merchant matched someone with the table. It now has a new home! And they bought a desk and chair too!! |
